Uncategorised

Energy drinks may pose danger to public health, WHO

Researchers from the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe have warned that the increased consumption of energy drinks may pose danger to public health, especially among young people.

The researchers reviewed literature on the health risks, consequences and policies related to energy drink consumption, and concluded that that concerns in the scientific community and among the public of potential adverse health effects caused by the increased consumption of energy drinks are “broadly valid”.

Caffeinated energy drinks were first launched in Europe in 1987, and have since boomed into a highly lucrative industry worldwide. Sales in the US have increased by around 10 percent per year between 2008 and 2012. Estimates from the European Food Safety authority suggest that 30 percent of adults, 68 percent of adolescents and 18 percent of children below the age of 10 consume energy drinks.

Studies included in the review suggest that caffeine intoxication can lead to a host of health dangers including heart palpitations, hypertension, nausea and vomiting, convulsions, psychosis, and in rare cases, death. The researchers noted that several cases in the USA, Sweden, and Australia have been reported where people have died of heart failure or were hospitalized with seizures due to excessive consumption of energy drinks.

According to the National Poison Data System in the US, between 2010 and 2011, 4854 calls to poison information centres were made in relation to energy drinks, and of those calls, almost 40 percent involved alcohol mixed with energy drinks. A similar study in Australia demonstrated a growth in the number of calls about energy drinks.

"As energy drink sales are rarely regulated by age, unlike alcohol and tobacco, and there is a proven potential negative effect on children, there is the potential for a significant public health problem in the future," wrote the authors.

As possible solutions to address the rising health concerns surrounding the dangers of energy drink consumption, the researchers suggest:

  • Establishing an upper limit for the amount of caffeine allowed in a single serving of any drink in line with available scientific evidence;
  • Regulations to enforce restriction of labelling and sales of energy drinks to children and adolescents;
  • Enforcing standards for responsible marketing to young people by the energy drink industry;
  • Training health care practitioners to be aware of the risks and symptoms of energy drinks consumption;
  • Patients with a history of diet problems and substance abuse, both alone and combined with alcohol, should be screened for the heavy consumption of energy drinks;
  • Educating the public about the risks of mixing alcohol with energy drinks consumption;
  • Further research on the potential adverse effects of energy drinks, particularly on young people.

 

Send this to a friend